Page 81 of Captured Beauty

“Sorry.” My neck tilted up.

He shook his head. “I should be apologizing.” He grinned. “A beautiful young lady like yourself shouldn’t be eating alone. Care to join me?”

My mouth grew dry. “I—” I started.

“Excuse me, where are my manners? I’m Chris.” He held his hand out.

Blinking slowly, I looked around before grabbing it. “Azeira.”

His smile widened. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” He brought the back of my hand to his lips. My stomach dropped and my eyes darted around. Fear that Kairus would pop out and shoot the man struck me.

Quickly I snatched my hand away from him and forced a smile on my face. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat and tightened my hand on my bag. “I have to go though.” I went to move.

“Wait, if you won’t join me for breakfast, how about I take you to dinner sometime?”

“Oh I don’t.”

“Just take my number. If you’re interested, you can text me.” I nibbled on my bottom lip and shifted my eyes again. There was no harm in getting his number and it wasn’t like he was ugly. He was actually quite handsome.

“Okay,” I answered.

I went into my back pocket for my phone. When I unlocked it to give it to him, my heart dropped and my blood ran cold seeing the text on my screen.

Kairus: Unless you want someone else’s blood on your hands. I advise you to not let that man touch you again and walk away.

The threat shouldn’t have made my center throb, or my heart triple in speed, like it did. I knew it!I knew he was watching me. Quickly, I stepped back and looked around.

“I’m sorry. I can’t,” I blurted out and hurried past him. Rushing out of the door, my eyes darted around the parking lot. I hated how much I wanted to lay eyes on Kairus. How much I truly missed him.

My phone vibrated in my hands.

Kairus: Good girl.

A shiver shot through my body.

Me: Where are you?

Me: Are you following me?

Me: Why don’t you show yourself?

I miss you.

That was one text I couldn’t bring myself to send.

It couldn’t be this normal to be this addicted to a person. I wanted Kairus to come for me. To demand that I come back to his estate and stay by his side.

I waited for him to reply, but the seconds ticked by and nothing.

My shoulders fell and I tucked my bottom lip into my mouth.

He’s not coming.

I searched the area again. Part of me wanted to just go to Kairus’s house and demand that he take me back and fix things, but my pride wouldn’t allow me. He was the one who sent me away. He locked me up then suddenly threw me away as if I meant nothing. If he wanted to fix things,hehad to come to me.

Part of me was tempted to go back into the diner and take that guy up on his offer, but I didn’t want him losing his life for me.

Seeing that Kairus wasn’t gonna appear, I turned to go to my car in defeat. It had been almost a week since I was sent away. I had my time, but now it was time to finish sulking. I had a life before Kairus and I needed to get back to it.